Since R8 has achieved much triumph, the R8: V12 TDI Concept has come to reality in the beginning of 2008 at the NAIAS and Geneva International Motor Show. With its raving reviews, the auto-mobile is going into production and named R8 TDI Le Mans. As V12 TDI engine of Le Mans champion R10 as its base (and its ‘soul’), hence the new model processes the name ‘Le Mans’.
To allow space for the V12 engine, the body of the auto-mobile is lengthened to 166cm which makes it appears to be more flat. The glass lid that protects the engine is also an eye catching feature, as well as enabling more air in the engine. The structure of R8 TDI Le Mans is based on ASF(AUDI Space Frame), making it much less rigid and therefore the auto-mobile weighs only 210kg.
This is the first domestic auto-mobile to embody the V12 TDI engine, on top of that AUDI has placed two turbo charge engines with a maximum horse power of 500 rpm/hr and a warping torsion of 1000N.m. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km requires only 4.2 seconds and its maximum speed reaches 300km. The most advanced technology is applied to R8 TDI Le Mans — ‘drive select’ remote system providing ‘dynamic’, ‘sport’ and ‘race’ settings, auto-magnetic-suspension system, well known Quattro system among others. A combination of power, technology and aesthetic, R8 TDI Le Mans leaps effortlessly into the future of automobile.
Text: BEBOP | Translation: dilettante | Photo: Kimio Ng | Update: 7 Feb 2009
